the Yorkshire accent goes global!

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Global Vision International - www.gvi.co.uk
★★★★★
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georginaharbo's review of Global Vision International - www.gvi.co.uk

“the Yorkshire accent goes global! ”

★★★★★

written by georginaharbo on 06/09/2013

Upon leaving for Kenya, I knew I would either love it or hate; there would be no middle ground; no ifs, buts or maybes. I had never experienced the third world. I had grown up hearing crazy stories of my mother's experiences in Papua New Guinea and knew that one day I had to have a similar adventure but it is impossible to know how you are going to react until you are immersed in a place. The journey mirrored a journey away from civilisation: Leeds to Amsterdam (not much change), Amsterdam to Nairobi (significantly more haphazard airport security) and, finally, Nairobi to Mombasa. Luckily, I was on the same flight as another volunteer and so we took the taxi to the hotel together. The taxi ride was confronting. Traffic flew from all directions; men were pushing enormous carts loaded with petrol cans. However, even in the chaos, I could see the beauty of the place: the pure, raw humanity of it all. Kenya struck me as an odd mix of vivid, unshakeable cultural diversity but with misplaced splashes of Westernisation scarring the landscape.
After spending an evening at a Mombasa hotel, we were collected by GVI staff and immediately made to feel welcome and an important part of their team. We travelled several hours down a dirt track to arrive in Shimoni, a tiny fishing village on the Kenyan coast. From there, I was told that I would be going to 'the island'. This both excited and terrified me at the same time. Whilst waiting for the boat, I met a girl who, by the end of the trip, had become one of my closest friends.
Loading into a tiny tin boat, we crossed the channel and, as we approached the beach, I saw one of the most strangely beautiful sights I have ever seen. A chiseled coral shelf sheltered a procession of men and women transporting a delivery of food from the beach up to the local village. The island sustained a strict Muslim population. Women in hijabs carried weighty boxes of supplies on their heads and waded through the water and up to the sandy outcrop. Once all the supplies had been moved, several of the local men could be seen discussing who was going to take ownership of the few remaining cardboard boxes.
Mkwiro village, on the island, was entirely serene. Apart from an antisocial donkey and the timely calls to prayer, only the noise of the ocean can be heard at night. The people live simply but abide by their faith and are very welcoming.
I had never taught prior to embarking on this adventure but, having been trained by one of the most wonderful young women I have ever met, I felt fully prepared. The children like to laugh and joke but have a beautiful spirit and never stop smiling. I had the pleasure of reading with a girl who was close to my own age and was absolutely inspiring. She had so much responsibility and yet was so calm and polite; every single time she saw me after that she made a point of saying hello to me.
To someone who has never visited Africa I would say, for goodness sake, go! It's like no other place I have ever experienced and volunteering with GVI was a wonderful way to see it. Seriously, don't second guess it; I didn't and it turned out to be one of the best things I've ever done.

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Familypotts's Response to georginaharbo's Review

Written on: 07/11/2013

Hi - we are thinking of doing the Mombasa opportunity. - can you tell us anything about the conditions -some reviewers seem to say the facilities are awful and staff not helpful. Any advice gratefully received

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Georginaharbo's reply to Familypotts's Comment

Written on: 07/11/2013

Hello; I didn't actually stay in Mombasa, as I was on Mkwiro island. However, many of the staff on Mkwiro had spent time in Mombasa. The facilities are a lot less basic than Shimoni or Mkwiro - there is running water and electricity. In terms of staff, I can only go from my experience; the staff I worked with in Shimoni and on Mkwiro were great, very friendly and helpful. Mombasa is a city of contrasts. I personally preferred Shimoni, but it depends what kind of experience you are looking for. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

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